Laila Blair's Career-high 33 points leads Houston over TCU, 77-66

POSTED: January 13, 2024 -- 11:10 p.m. CT

HOUSTON, TX (Fertitta Center) -- The Houston Cougars women's basketball team defeated the TCU Horned Frogs, 77-66, Saturday afternoon.

Laila Blair, Houston senior shooting guard, scored a career-high 33 points in the win. Blair was on fire in the first half. She made 8 of her 9 field goal attempts including a perfect 4-for-4 from three-point range.

"We had no answer for her," Mark Campbell, TCU's Head Coach said after the game.

"If I see one go in, I'm gonna keep going," Blair said of stellar shooting performance.

Blair made all 4 of her threes in the opening quarter as she scored 15 points in the first quarter on 5 for 6 field goal shooting. In spite of her superb shooting, Houston (11-5, 2-3 in Big 12) trailed TCU 20-17 with 12 seconds to go. Blair tied the game at 20 with her 4th three-point basket.

TCU's offense overcame a knee injury to starting point guard Jaden Owens. With 2:38 left in the 1st quarter, Owens injured her knee on a fast break opportunity. She collapsed to the court and remained on the court for a few minutes before she was helped to her feet. She gingerly walked off the court to the locker room. Owens did not return to the game.

Owen's absence took its toll on TCU (14-4, 1-4) in the second quarter. TCU committed 8 turnovers in the second quarter; and, Houston scored 11 points off the turnovers. The Coogs outscored the Frogs 21-9 in the period to lead 41-29 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Blair's red-hot start cooled as she missed all 5 of her shot attempts; however, Houston still led by as much as 14 in the third and led 55-44 after 30 minutes.

Blair resumed her shooting touching in the 4th quarter. She was a perfect 3-for-3 from the floor in the fourth; and, Houston enjoyed its largest lead of 17 twice in the 4th.

TCU battled back but never got closer than 9 to Houston in the closing moments.

Houston graduate forward Bria Patterson scored 10 points during the game and added a team-high 7 rebounds. Patterson scored the 1000th point of her collegiate career in the game.

"I'll say it's a milestone," Patterson said matter-of-fact. "I've been here for five years; so, of course, everybody wants to hit 1000 points. So, it's just special that I've been able to get it."

The Coogs have won 2 in a row since their 0-3 start in Big 12 play. Houston Head Coach Ronald Hughey credits his team's resiliency for the improved results.

"Now that we see who we are, who we have to be, every time we take the floor. It's not a problem in practice to understand what we need to do," Coach Hughey said.

"We have to continue to protect home court. I'm just excited about the win," Coach Hughey concluded.

NEXT:

Houston's next game is Wednesday, January 17, on the road, against West Virginia. Tip is set for 6 p.m. on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.

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